Brazil has a problem

The big news the knockout draw sees Brazil meeting Japan. The Samurai Blue were unable to overtake the Netherlands for first place in the group after the Dutch defeated Tunisia, leaving Japan to face Brazil in the Round of 32. It won’t be an easy matchup for either side. Not even close. Fresh in the memory is the thrilling friendly the two teams played a few months ago, when Japan staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat Brazil.

Despite taking the lead and turning in a strong performance against Sweden, Anthony Elanga’s equalizer condemned Japan to second place and a Round of 32 showdown with Carlo Ancelotti’s team. But they are no ordinary opponent. Japan plays attractive soccer and rarely loses. In fact, they finished the group stage unbeaten and have suffered just one defeat in their last 16 matches. They have now gone nearly a full year without losing, with their last defeat coming against the United States in September 2025.

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Sweden vs Japan

Against Sweden, Hajime Moriyasu, who likes to rotate his lineup, stuck with a back three but brought back players such as Ritsu Doan and Daizen Maeda, both of whom have been outstanding at this World Cup. The pair combined to score the opening goal early in the second half. With Takefusa Kubo unavailable, they have been Japan’s biggest attacking bright spots, alongside Shunsuke Nakamura, who was excellent down the left flank. There was less impact this time from Ayase Ueda, the team’s leading scorer.

Sweden, meanwhile, knew a loss would eliminate them while a draw would send them through, and eventually found the reward their urgency deserved just as the game seemed to be slipping away. Elanga unleashed a fierce strike from the left that beat Zion Suzuki and dropped Japan into second place. Suzuki then had to make a brilliant save in stoppage time to deny Alexander Isak’s header and preserve the draw. The result creates a difficult challenge for the Samurai Blue, but also for Brazil. In Houston, the five-time world champions will face a very dangerous opponent.

52.3% possession for Japan

Japan controlled the tempo of the game and enjoyed more possession than Sweden (47.7%).

1.31 xG for Japan

The Asian side created far better scoring chances than Sweden, who finished with just 0.42 expected goals.

10 shots for Sweden

Sweden attempted more shots than Japan (8), reflecting a greater overall attacking volume.

5 shots on target for Sweden

The Scandinavian side was more accurate with its finishing, putting five efforts on target compared to Japan’s three.

8 corners for Sweden

The Europeans created significant danger from set pieces, earning eight corner kicks compared to Japan’s two.

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Japan

• 1 Zion Suzuki
• 20 Ayumu Seko (74')
• 4 Ko Itakura (38')
• 21 Hiroki Ito
• 7 Ao Tanaka
• 2 Yukinari Sugawara
• 13 Keito Nakamura (74')
• 15 Daichi Kamada
• 18 Ayase Ueda (65')
• 11 Daizen Maeda
• 10 Ritsu Doan (66')
• Substitutes
• 12 Keisuke Osako
• 14 Junya Ito (66')
• 3 Shogo Taniguchi (38')
• 25 Junnosuke Suzuki
• 26 Kento Shiogai
• 19 Koki Ogawa (65')
• 6 Shuto Machino
• 16 Tsuyoshi Watanabe (74')
• 9 Keisuke Goto
• 17 Yuito Suzuki
• 23 Tomoki Hayakawa
• 24 Kaishu Sano
• 5 Yuto Nagatomo (74')
• 22 Takehiro Tomiyasu

Sweden

• 1 Jacob Widell Zetterström
• 4 Isak Hien (36')
• 2 Gustaf Lagerbielke
• 5 gabriel Gudmundsson (87')
• 18 Yasin Ayari
• 3 Nilsson-Lindelöf (87')
• 24 Elliot Stroud (74')
• 21 Alexander Bernhardsson (74')
• 11 Anthony Elanga
• 17 Viktor Gyokeres
• 9 Isak
• Substitutes
• 20 Eric Anders Smith
• 10 Benjamin Nygren (87')SC
• 8 Daniel Svensson (74')
• 16 Jesper Karlström
• 12 Viktor Johansson
• 23 Nordfeldt
• 19 Mathas Svanberg
• 26 Taha Ali
• 6 Herman Johansson
• 22 Besfort Zeneli
• 14 Hjalmar Ekdal
• 25 Gustaf Nilsson
• 15 Starfelt (87')SC
• 13 Sema (74')
• 7 Lucas Bergvall (36')

Substitutions

Lucas Bergvall (36', Isak Hien), Shogo Taniguchi (38', Ko Itakura), Koki Ogawa (65', Ayase Ueda), Junya Ito (66', Ritsu Doan), Yuto Nagatomo (74', Keito Nakamura), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (74', Ayumu Seko), Daniel Svensson (74', Alexander Bernhardsson), Ken Sema (74', Elliot Stroud), Carl Starfelt (87', Victor Lindelöf), Benjamin Nygren (87', Gabriel Gudmundsson)

Goals

1-0, 55': Daizen Maeda, 1-1, 61': Anthony Elanga

Cards

Referee: Iván Barton
VAR Referee: Nicolás Gallo Barragán, Guillermo Pacheco Larios
Isak Hien (31',Yellow), Shogo Taniguchi (76',Yellow), Viktor Gyokeres (84',Yellow)

Standings

Group F	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 NDL	7	3	2	1	0
2 JAP	5	3	1	2	0
3 SUE	4	3	1	1	1
4 TUN	0	3	0	0	3

Group F	Pts.	P	W	D	L
1 NDL	7	3	2	1	0
2 JAP	5	3	1	2	0
3 SUE	4	3	1	1	1
4 TUN	0	3	0	0	3